Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Trade Nation, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
ActivTrades, established in 2001, and Trade Nation, founded in 2014, are both online brokers that prioritize client protection and regulatory compliance. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. Both firms hold two Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a highly trustworthy status according to ForexBrokers.com standards. They also each possess one Tier-2 license, reflecting a trusted level of security and operations.
While both brokers demonstrate a commitment to safety through their regulatory credentials, Trade Nation edges out slightly in reliability with a Trust Score of 85 out of 99, compared to ActivTrades' Trust Score of 81. This places both brokers in the "trusted" category, offering customers confidence in their service integrity while providing a secure environment for trading activities.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of ActivTrades and Trade Nation, both brokers present compelling offerings, yet cater to different trading preferences. ActivTrades provides spreads that are slightly better than the industry average. With one primary account type, alongside Professional and Islamic Account options, ActivTrades does not specifically offer accounts geared towards high-volume trading or active trader pricing. The spreads are consistent across account types, with the EUR/USD averaging 0.98 pips in May 2024. ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, ranking 28th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Trade Nation, on the other hand, is recognized for its competitive fixed-spread pricing on both its proprietary TN Trader platform and MetaTrader. While its fixed spread for the EUR/USD pair starts at 0.6 pips, the average can reach closer to 1 pip due to occasional spread widening during rollover periods. Trade Nation offers three account types, including a commission-based Raw Spread account on MetaTrader and its noteworthy TN Trader account, which generally features the lowest spreads when considering all-in costs. Rated 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, Trade Nation stands out impressively, ranking 7th out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
In essence, ActivTrades is a solid choice for traders seeking slightly better than average spreads without high-volume specific pricing, while Trade Nation shines for those who prefer fixed pricing and potentially lower overall trading costs, as evidenced by its higher ranking and star rating. Both brokers excel in their respective niches, positioning themselves as top choices depending on an investor's trading style and priorities.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing ActivTrades and Trade Nation for their investment offerings, both online brokers provide traders with access to forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. ActivTrades boasts a larger selection with 1,267 tradeable symbols, compared to Trade Nation's 1,000. In the realm of forex pairs, ActivTrades again holds an edge with 49 pairs, whereas Trade Nation offers 46. However, neither platform allows the purchase of exchange-traded U.S. securities such as Apple shares. While ActivTrades provides access to international exchange-traded securities, like Vodafone shares on the London Stock Exchange, Trade Nation does not offer this option.
Both brokers accommodate investors interested in cryptocurrency derivatives without dealing in actual cryptocurrency purchases. When it comes to copy trading features, both ActivTrades and Trade Nation meet expectations. Despite these similarities, ActivTrades earns a slightly higher investment range rating of 4 stars, compared to Trade Nation's 3.5 stars. On ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is ranked 31st out of 62 brokers for investment range, while Trade Nation holds the 38th spot, underscoring ActivTrades' superior standing in this category.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of ActivTrades and Trade Nation, both brokers provide a comprehensive range of options to suit different trading needs. ActivTrades stands out with its proprietary platform that, alongside MetaTrader 4 and 5, offers a seamless trading experience on both web-based and desktop platforms. It also supports copy trading and facilitates trading directly from stock charts, a feature not available with Trade Nation. With 15 drawing tools and the ability to customize watch lists using 11 columns, ActivTrades caters well to traders seeking flexible charting solutions. Its provision of a free virtual demo account further enhances the learning experience for new traders. Achieving a rating of four stars, ActivTrades ranks 30th out of 62 brokers for its trading platforms and tools.
Trade Nation also offers a proprietary platform compatible with both web browsers and Windows desktop environments, ensuring accessible trading as you navigate the market. Though it satisfies crucial trading needs with a free demo account and support for MetaTrader 4, it does not extend to MT5 like ActivTrades. However, Trade Nation appeals with an impressive arsenal of 39 drawing tools and watch lists supporting up to 14 customizable columns, providing substantial resources for in-depth market analysis. While not supporting direct trading from stock charts, it has firmly established itself with an equivalent four-star rating in this category. Positioned at 44th among 62 brokers for its trading platforms and tools, Trade Nation maintains competitive offerings for both new and experienced traders.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 14 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of ActivTrades and Trade Nation, both brokers offer comprehensive options for iPhone and Android users. They support features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and the option to view multiple time frames, ensuring a versatile trading experience. Both apps allow for creating watchlists with real-time quotes, although Trade Nation takes the lead with watchlist symbol syncing between the app and the online account—a feature ActivTrades lacks. In terms of charting tools, ActivTrades offers 30 technical studies, whereas Trade Nation provides a more extensive selection with 99 studies.
Despite both brokers receiving a 4-star rating for their mobile apps, ActivTrades outshines Trade Nation in overall ranking by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #19 compared to Trade Nation's position at #45 out of 62 brokers. This suggests that while both apps are highly rated, ActivTrades may provide a slightly superior user experience overall. Both platforms ensure that drawings on charts are automatically saved, catering to the needs of traders on the go. Whether you value a higher number of technical studies or prefer syncing capabilities, both ActivTrades and Trade Nation offer solid mobile app choices for trading.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 99 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both ActivTrades and Trade Nation provide traders with daily market commentary and access to forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring that users stay informed with the latest financial news. However, neither brokerage offers additional technical or fundamental research tools from well-known providers like Autochartist or Trading Central. For investors interested in sentiment analysis, both platforms offer tools to gauge market sentiment across various instruments, adding another layer of insight into trading decisions.
Where ActivTrades distinguishes itself is in offering an economic calendar, a tool absent from Trade Nation, providing users with a schedule of global economic events that can impact markets. In contrast, Trade Nation enriches its research offerings with tools from Acuity Trading, adding depth to its analytical resources. In terms of ratings, ActivTrades slightly edges ahead with a research rating of 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked 30th by ForexBrokers.com out of 62 brokers, while Trade Nation follows closely with a 3.5-star rating and a 42nd place ranking. This makes ActivTrades a more favorable choice for those prioritizing research capabilities, albeit both brokers cater well to their clientele's research needs.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, ActivTrades stands out by offering a wide array of materials. Beginners can access over 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, in addition to a rich collection of beginner videos. Notably, ActivTrades hosts online webinars every month and maintains a searchable archive of these sessions, allowing users to revisit past topics at their convenience. While they may not provide an investor dictionary, their overall educational offerings are highly rated at 4 stars, making them a strong option for those new to trading.
Trade Nation, meanwhile, also provides resources tailored for beginners, such as over 10 educational pieces and beginner videos on trading topics. However, they don't offer the frequency of live webinars that ActivTrades does, and lack an archive of past webinars, which may limit on-demand learning opportunities. On the plus side, Trade Nation includes an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, catering to those who appreciate having quick reference material. With a 3.5-star rating in education, they offer a solid learning platform, although slightly less comprehensive compared to ActivTrades.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ActivTrades is better than Trade Nation. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
ActivTrades is a long-standing brand that offers a proprietary trading platform, ActivTrader, and support for the award-winning TradingView and MetaTrader (MT4 and MT5) platforms. ActivTrades also delivers a selection of custom add-ons, indicators, and trading tools for traders who prefer to use MetaTrader. Drawbacks for trading with ActivTrades include a smaller selection of tradeable symbols and fewer educational resources than what’s available from the best forex brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
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Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 81 | 85 |
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Both ActivTrades and Trade Nation do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, rather than the actual cryptocurrency itself.
Both ActivTrades and Trade Nation offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but neither broker provides ACH, SEPA, or PayPal as options.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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2 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 14 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Trade Nation Review |
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